On the Boards This Week

Can't Skip

Danny and the Deep Blue Sea

Second Stage Theatre, 307 W. 43rd St.

Tue 7 p.m., Wed-Sat 8 p.m.,

Wed, Sat 2 p.m., Sun 3 p.m.

John Patrick Shanley is most famous for the screen vehicle that starred Nicolas Cage and Cher, but his newest work is no Moonstruck. Danny and the Deep Blue Sea explores the multi-faceted relationship between a volatile man and a disturbed woman who meet in a shady location in the Bronx. Starring in the revival are Adam Rothenberg (who recently portrayed Stanley Kowalski in the Kennedy Center’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire) and Rosemarie DeWitt (Small Tragedy).—Lauren La Torre

Eat The Taste

Barrow Street Theater

27 Barrow St.

Mon 7 p.m., 9 p.m.

This witty political spoof, by Urinetown scribe Greg Kotis, follows former Attorney General John Ashcroft as he decides to transform his own life story into an “inspiring” Broadway musical. Ashcroft desires Kotis (played by Kotis himself) to write this sure “hit,” but must convince him with two comical Homeland Security agents. Who wouldn’t relish the opportunity to see this play that laughingly pokes fun at the current state of political affairs? —Emily Michal

Closings

Hell Meets Henry Halfway

Ohio Theater, 66 Wooster St.

Through Nov. 21

Tue-Sat 8 p.m., Sat-Sun 2 p.m.

Pig Iron Theatre, a “dance-clown-theater ensemble” from Philadelphia, goes all-out in a production based on a Gothic novel by Polish absurdist Witold Gombrowicz. Adapted by Adriano Shaplin, whose Pugilist Specialist is also currently on the boards, the plot is hard to pin down—it concerns a crazy prince trapped in a tower with his secretary. But Pig Iron’s winning creativity and impressive physical approach will score major points with anyone who likes her theater revved up—the actors seem to have boundless energy.—Mallory Jensen

Campus

The Happy Prince

Minor Latham Playhouse

Nov. 18 6:30 p.m. (free performance)

Nov. 19-20 8 p.m.

For those of you who thought The Happy Prince was just a short story by Oscar Wilde, you’re so wrong—it’s a puppet show adaptation of a short story by Oscar Wilde. Directed and designed by Barnard’s Amy Trompetter, choreographed by David Neumann, and acted by Barnard/Columbia undergraduates, brightly colored puppets and backdrops provide the action in this critically-acclaimed new work. The piece premiered earlier this year at The Kitchen and will move on to a Kentucky Opera production early next year. —Adam Katz

The House of Bernarda Alba

Nov. 17, 19 8 p.m.; Nov. 20, 21 4 p.m.

Crocodile Eyes

Nov. 16, 18 8 p.m.; Nov. 20, 21 7:30 p.m.

The Theatre of the Riverside Church

120th St. and Claremont Ave.

The School of The Arts presents two plays exploring different perspectives on the Spanish Civil War: Federico Garcia Lorca’s The House of Bernarda Alba and SOA professor Eduardo Machado’s Crocodile Eyes. Lorca’s famous drama chronicles the life of Bernarda Alba. Eyes picks up with the lives of the men living outside her house. Bereft of everything that has formed their identities, they long for what Bernarda’s daughters have but hate: an authoritarian leader to make them strong again. —Jared Spencer

Barnard Dances at Miller

The Miller Theater

116th St. and Broadway

Nov. 18-20 8 p.m.

Barnard’s well-known dance program finally has the opportunity to shine. Pulling in sharp choreography from hot names like Mark Morris, the show is a nice mixture of both modern and classical dance. The dancers, selected to perform from auditions and composition classes, always give themselves over to the movement. This will surely be a night of energy and passion, right on our own campus .—Emily Michal